Celebrating Denise Marshall's remarkable career

After an extraordinary 30 years, Denise Marshall, our Director of Services, is retiring this month.

Denise's story with Birth Companions began in 1996 as one of our original birth companions, when a group of doulas and antenatal teachers came together to offer support to women from Holloway Prison following a Channel 4 News investigation into handcuffing during labour.

Since 2005, Denise has been a treasured member of the Birth Companions staff team and the beating heart of our frontline services - supporting pregnant women and new mothers facing some of the most challenging circumstances with unwavering compassion and expertise.

In recent years as our Director of Services, she has led our growing services team with care and dedication, passing on her invaluable insight and shaping our evolving models of support. Denise's deep knowledge of the criminal justice system, pregnancy and early motherhood, and trauma-informed practice has profoundly shaped how we work. We routinely hear how impactful she has been in the lives of the many women she has supported.

"It has been an incredible journey for me, meeting such inspiring women and learning so much! I'm so glad that Tanya will be taking over from me and I hope to stay connected with this amazing work."
Denise Marshall

We are thrilled to announce that Tanya Tracey, our current Criminal Justice Services Manager, will be stepping into the Director of Services role from January 2026. More details about this transition will follow in the new year.

Thank you, Denise, for three decades of extraordinary service. You will be greatly missed by our team, and across the sector - though we know you won't be far away!